STEP ONE:
bring your needle up (from under the fabric) at 1, then go down at 2:
leavimg about 1/4 inch (or less) of thread tail on back at 1

STEP TWO:

Come up at 3 with your needle (this will effectively catch the "tail" of thread left at 1 because we are doubling back across where we started), go down at 4. This is the BOTTOM LEG of your cross stitch. TRY TUGGING...that is a well anchored stitch with little to no waste of thread!

If you want to clip the tail, clip it now. Mine are typically so short, they get caught in the back leg and don't even need clipping because they are well hidden and anchored on the back of the fabric.

THIS JUST ILLUSTRATES WHAT THE BOTTOM LEG OF THE CROSS STITCH WILL LOOK LIKE:

STEP 3:

come up with your needle at 5 and go down at 6. Here is your completed X.

1.) If this is a isolated stitch, end off by tucking the ends around the leg of the stitch on the backside of the fabric 2-3 times and clip.

2. if you are starting a color, commence stitching! End your thread as you normally would - by tucking under stitches and clipping when space/color is completed.

For all my stitching friends...

try this! It is stitching life altering!

Just a little Tip, Trick, Technique hint from me to you because caring is sharing!

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

and very busy! I have been wanting to share a post for quite a few days now, but my body has been hopping to and fro and when not hopping, I have been coughing. Yes, I caught the dreaded "spring cold" that probably is a leftover of the winter wrath. It came on without any clue I was getting sick and before I knew it I was in the throes of coughing and hacking about. Which, the horrible complete body spasms from coughing, inflamed my sciatic nerve and then every cough, every sneeze, every movement caused a horrible, terrible electrocution feeling down my left leg that left me sobbing. Anyone that has ever dealt with sciatic pain understands exactly where I'm coming from. Sciatic pain is some of the worse pain I've ever had to deal with. I couldn't sleep in a bed for 4 days, one night I couldn't sit, couldn't lay...So I leaned against a wall for hours. It was horrible. But thankfully, with some fluids, rest and Advil...I finally am back to normal...I still have the odd twinge from my sciatic, but it has calmed down mightily. It will go away steadily now that I'm not coughing my head off every 30 seconds.

How about stitching?

Well...I have many updates!

Here is where my "Early Americans" by Little House Needleworks stands after the addition of John Hancock:

*again all the information about changes I have made in colors, my fabric choice and my own creation: the border is all available in the tab above entitled Early Americans Progression

I made some progress also on my "As Life Wears Away" by Carriage House Samplings:

*I absolutely adore this piece...the satin stitches which could be called bargello, flame stitch, flourentine stitch, but it is essentially at its base level - satin stitch - is absolutely fabulous. I am LOVING how this is turning out! Stitching on 32 count limited run Lakeside Linens stitching with DMC not the NPI silks called for.

Next Up is "Let Freedom Ring Sampler" by Lila's Studio and my progress there after three evenings:

May I present "Mermaids of the Deep Blue" started on my own hand-dyed fabric. (inquiring minds? I use RIT and I painted it with brushes to get the blues, aquas and pinks where I wanted them - the fabric is absolutely stunning)

And lastly I had a new start and a border of my own creation for the new series by Country Cottage Needleworks. The New series is a ten part series and it is entitled "Main Street". You can read all about it HERE.

Here is my start:
I did change some things. I omitted the light pole and added a bicycle. Why? There is a flower shop in my city where I live, that has an old bike painted white with big baskets of flowers on the front handlebars and the back tire basket. I have always thought it so cute. So in my "Main Street" I am recreating it and going to add/delete things to make it my perfect little city. At my flower shop I added a bike with a big basket of flowers. I didn't have a pattern, I didn't even make a pattern. I just did two bike "tires" then added the pink stitches and handlebars until I thought it looked good enough like a bike, added some back stitched fenders then added a basket that is loosely like one of the pot of flowers on the shop. Viola! :)

and here is my layout, again I designed my own border:

and before anyone asks, yes, you may have the pattern. BUT again I want to reiterate. This is - my work. I spent a good 6 hours on this, doing math, counting, recounting, and designing - if you use it, PLEASE give my name credit for it. I am sure most people that follow me notice: I give everything away freely to the world. Everything. Tutorials, patterns, any gained knowledge about stitching, finishing, designing. I'm not doing this for monetary compensation in any way. I'm doing this because of my love for needlework and my love for fellow humans who love and enjoy stitching as much as I do. I'm promoting stitching, I'm promoting kindness and giving of myself freely. The best thing you can do for me in return is to credit my name if you use anything that I give freely (tutorials, patterns, information, etc)

I cannot offer this in PDF printable format because it was created by using the free version of PC Stitch. It is in my Flickr album and if you blow it up (by clicking on the spyglass in Flickr) you can see the stitches on the graph visually from your computer or your tablet - EASILY. So please don't ask for a "hard copy" or a "printable copy" I stitched it myself using my flickr album and iPad. I didn't have a printed copy myself.

Finishing...

I've done a lot and all of those items may be viewed under the tab "My Finishing Service" and clicking on the 2017 Finishing Link contained within...I am currently up to 208 finishes that I have completed for clients since January 9, 2017. Blessed to be very busy! Thank you to those who use my finishing service. It is my honor to finish for you!

I believe that sums me up for the present time...

my boys and Ellie have 9 days of school left. Katie is back home with us and currently working at her internship job for the summer. I'm trying to get caught up on finishing work. Mr. Pfeiffer is currently at home this week, but every other week he has to travel to St. Louis for 7 days for work. So he's home a week, gone a week, home a week, gone a week....for the upcoming 6-8 months. :(

I don't like him gone...but such is the way of an engineer in the throes of a sell off.